Individuals can reasonably be ready to solo anywhere from 8-30 hours, it just depends on a lot of things. As an instructor I wouldn't be worried about the 30 hour guy as long as steady progress is being made. You can proceed with most of the syllabus if they're not ready to solo, so you're not wasting training time/money.

10 hours can be too early depending on where you train. I was at a tower controlled field under the NY Class B. There was no way you were going to do it that quick. Hell, you'd spend at least .2 or .3 per flight waiting for takeoff clearance or being extended on downwind for landing. LAFF, there are more people out there with positive FBO experiences than those like yours. I think it took me 14 or so hours and I was not a below average student. It only took 3 weeks to solo, 3 months to PPL. Had I learned at an uncontrolled field it probably would have been quicker. The tradeoff was having decent ATC handling skills before being cut loose.

LAFF:

Do you hold a pilot certificate? Im curious as to the extent of your aviation background.

Erik

Zero hours dual given. If I have my way I want to give 1,000+ hours dual when the time comes in the distant future.

-LAFF

Erik,

PPL only.

-LAFF

Evasive answer LAFF:

Could that also be zero hours of dual received?

Erik

Cool.

Is your dad still working for PHI?

You dont want to do that?

Erik

I believe his Dad passed away...

Sorry to hear that.

I believe LAFF said his father or somebody was a helicopter pilot for PHI down in LA. Offshore helicopter flying always seemed interesting to me.

Erik

Off-shore flying is not for me. Takes a certain type to fly off-shore not everyone can do it...

Helo training is too expensive. In recent years a lot of civilian trained pilots have been getting on w/ off-shore companies as their is a shortage of military trained helo pilots.

Fixed-wing training is much cheaper.


-LAFF